Alasdair Gill has a passion for cooking and an abundance of creativity. However, years of working in hospitality and drinking heavily left him facing a difficult decision—one he took reluctantly, despite a dire prognosis.

His advice is valuable for everyone, no matter where you are in your relationship with alcohol.

Welcome to the next round, where I talk to people who have inspired me—not just with the changes they’ve made to their drinking habits, but with what they’ve gone on to achieve next. From reigniting old passions with renewed vigour to making bold life and career changes, there’s no template. What you do next is entirely up to you!

Alasdair Gill is now a private chef. Since rehab, he has rediscovered the skills and passion for cheffing that he developed early in his career, building a new way of working that aligns with who he is today. His story is a powerful reminder that the things you loved before life fell apart can still be part of your future.

Alasdair Gill’s journey from battling addiction to becoming a successful private chef is a powerful testament to resilience and reinvention. His story highlights the challenges of working in hospitality while struggling with alcohol and drug dependency and how recovery transformed not only his outlook on life but also his career.

The Beginning of the Journey: Struggles in Hospitality

For Alasdair, the hospitality industry was both a lifeline and a trap. He describes the kitchens and bars he worked in as a “pressure cooker,” a space that both attracted and enabled his struggles with alcohol.

While kitchens initially provided a way to earn money, Alasdair admits they didn’t spark joy or passion.

The Turning Point: Recovery

The tipping point came when Alasdair faced severe health issues, including cirrhosis of the liver, and was told he wouldn’t survive to see Christmas. Even then, his decision to enter rehab was reluctant.

Rehab became the space where Alasdair could pause, reflect, and start to piece his life back together.

Finding Purpose Through Cooking

Post-recovery, Alasdair returned to the one industry where he had experience -hospitality. But this time, he approached it differently. Together with a friend who was also in recovery, Alasdair launched a private catering business.

Sobriety has not only allowed Alasdair to rebuild his life but also to rediscover creativity and care in his craft.

Book Alasdair at gordonandgill.co.uk

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Denise has produced 18 editions of her new magazine dedicated to low and no alcohol drinks. Something she would never have considered if she had no re-evaluated her relationship with alcohol.

Welcome to the next round, where we speak to people about the next stage of their life once they have reviewed how alcohol impacts them.

You don’t have to be totally alcohol-free to gain benefits from rethinking your drinking. But as this week’s guest Denise Hamilton Mace has shown, you need to have a determination to change your life, and some ideas to get going with.

Denise has moderated her drinking habits, which led her to a degree in sports fitness and then she got brave, and started writing – something she was told way back when, that she may not be suited to. We love it when a guest proves their nay sayers wrong!

Exploring the Low and No Alcohol Revolution: Denise’s Journey of Discovery and Innovation

The rise of low and no alcohol options is transforming how we think about drinking, and Denise’s story provides a unique perspective on this cultural shift. As a hospitality professional turned advocate for mindful drinking and editor of Low and No Drinker magazine, Denise shares her journey of personal growth, career transformation, and creative exploration.

Redefining Life Through Moderating Alcohol

For Denise, the decision to cut back on alcohol wasn’t a dramatic turning point but a series of realisations.

“I started to notice how alcohol affected me over time. It wasn’t just the hangovers; it was the brain fog, the mood swings, and feeling like I wasn’t operating at my full capacity”

Her journey began with small lifestyle changes.

“I stopped eating red meat because it made me feel moody, and alcohol was the next thing I recognized as not serving me.”

Denise emphasises that she doesn’t identify as teetotal or in recovery but rather someone who found more balance by drinking less.

“It’s about discovering who you want to be and whether alcohol helps or hinders that.”

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The Club Soda Tasting Room is at 39 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5RR

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After quitting alcohol, Michelle Righini has dedicated herself to championing the wellbeing and skills of hospitality staff.

On The Next Round podcast, we dive into life after quitting drinking—especially for those in hospitality, where alcohol is often center stage. What’s next if you love the industry but not the booze?

Michelle, founder of We Recover Loudly, joins us to share her mission: creating a supportive space for drinks professionals who’ve ditched alcohol but not their passion for hospitality. Let’s talk change, advocacy, and keeping talent thriving!

You can find Michelle instagram @werecoverloudly.

“The thing that we put down is alcohol, but we don’t put down our creativity, our minds, our drive to make great drinks.”

This is a rallying cry for the hospitality industry to rethink its relationship with alcohol from Michelle. Creativity and skill are at the heart of what makes this industry thrive, and neither depends on the presence of alcohol. Removing it doesn’t mean losing artistry—it means opening up new possibilities.

Hospitality Culture: Why Is Addiction So Prevalent?

“What we’re not doing yet is going, why are we an industry that has such high levels of addiction? To be a good manager, you have to be able to drink? Like, what? What other industry does that make sense in?”

The hospitality sector has long celebrated a culture of drinking, but this norm raises significant questions about its impact on mental health and job performance. Changing these outdated perceptions is crucial to creating a more sustainable industry.

Sober Weekends and Smug Mornings

“Weekends are my favourite time to be sober because I get to do the thing I love the most, which is be smug. I get to wake up very smug at about eight o’clock and look at my life and go, this is a great choice.”

Sobriety transforms weekends from blurry recoveries to opportunities for enjoyment and reflection. This shift underscores the profound personal benefits of a life without alcohol.

The Cost of Industry Norms

“I slowly started to realise that alcohol was becoming the thing that was holding me together.”

For many in hospitality, alcohol becomes a crutch rather than a tool for connection. The realisation that it’s holding people back rather than propelling them forward is a pivotal moment in the journey toward change.

Addiction and the Industry’s “Throwaway” Culture

“When that line is crossed, so many of us just get thrown away, and that, for me, just never sat right.”

The industry’s tendency to discard talent once addiction becomes visible is a tragic waste. Recovery and reintegration need to be prioritized to retain valuable employees and demonstrate compassion.

See the full blog here.

Find Club Soda:

The Club Soda Tasting Room is at 39 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5RR

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